Sequence timer



Feb. 27, 11951 T. F. JOHNSON 2,543,241

SEQUENCE TIMER Filed Jan. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG"! INVENTOR. i THEODORE F JOHNSON ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 T. F. JOHNSON 2,543,241

SEQUENCE TIMER Filed Jan. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 94c nnnnnnmlp 14;, 26 g q .29 27 g FIG-6 INVENTOR. THEODORE F. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 11951 JOHNSON 2,543,241

SEQUENCE TIMER Filed Jan. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. THEODORE F. JOHNSON ATTOR NFYS FIG-l3 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 SEQUENCE TIMER Theodore F. Johnson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 140,975

13 Claims.

The invention relates to means for automatically controlling a sequence of operations, and

certain features of the invention are particularly applicable to the automatic control of such operations as are performed for example with washing machines or dry cleaning apparatus.

The invention will be hereinafter described with occasional reference to the control of a garment dry cleaning apparatus. It may be noted that since the particular features of the invention reside in the controller mechanism, the dry I A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved operator-operatable means for preselecting and varying the time period of certain steps in the formu a without afiecting the timing of other steps intermediate those varied.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for presetting and maintaining at substantially constant values the time periods for certain specific operations in a cycle, in combination with further means for readily and rapidly manually presetting, and at any desired time changing, the time periods for certain other specific operations intermediate the operations of substantially constant time intervals.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view taken on the line il of Fig. 2, partly in vertical section, partly in side elevation with a portion of the housing broken away to sh ow internal structure, and illustrating the main operating elements of my control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the control panel of the apparatus, as seen from the left of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in vertical section and somewhat enlarged, showing in greater detail a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4., 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-45, and 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view of a fragmentary portion of Fig. 8, somewhat enlarged to show greater detail;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line l0-l0 of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram showing certain elements schematically.

While the apparatus now to be described may be readily adapted to the control of a sequence of operations of considerable extent and complexity, and while I have used it for example to control a cycle of steps such as are described in a copending application of Edward A. Creswick for Dry Cleaning System, Serial No. 76,676, filed February 16, 1949, the apparatus will herein be described in connection with the control of a dry cleaning system having certain novel aspects, and using a volatile solvent.

In such system the garments are deposited, for example, in a drum-type foraminous work containing cylinder rotatable on a horizontal axis. The cylinder is journaled for rotation in a housing adapted to alternately hold cleaning and rinsing solutions. The cylinder is driven by either of two motors which may conveniently be arranged coaxially, with an overrunning clutch whereby a slow speed motor rotates the cylinder for the washing or rinsing operations, and a high speed motor rotates the cylinder for centrifugal extraction of the excess liquid after drainage of the wash or rinse liquid. In the apparatus now being discussed there may conveniently be two brakes, the first termed for convenience a slowdown brake which reduces the cylinder speed between the extraction operation and, for example, the rinse step, and a second brake herein termed for convenience a spot brake which brings the cylinder to a complete stop at the close of a complete cycle, or for any other desirable or necessary reason; Usually, also, there are precautionary means such as a lock for preventing access to the housing interior when the cylinder is running, and there are a plurality of valves for the successive introduction and discharge of washing fluid and rinsing fluid. In conventional washing machines, as distinguished from dry cleaning apparatus, there are additional valves for controlling the introduction of washing supplies such as bluing and bleach solutions, and for controlling the introduction and proportioning of hot and cold water. In more complex dry cleaning systems there may also be additional valves controlling routing of the solutions through filters, etc.

It is obviously desirable that these operations complished, in the present embodiment, by-

means of a compressible fluid such as air.- The compressed air in turn is supplied to servomotors on the-various valves as predetermined by the controller. The controller also operates the brakes, and the switches which select either a high or low speed motor. a

Referring now to the drawings, and speaking first generally, my control is housed ina casing I having an explosion proof front chamber 2| and a rear chamber 22. The motive power for the control consists of a motor. 23.,of the'clock type fixed on a plate 24 in chamber 2i, the plate being supported on studs 25 which are carried on the front wall 25 of the casing. As will later be more specifically described, once the motor starts it runs continuously for a complete cycle, mov ing a switch supporting plate 21 and its switch 28 through an angular extent and at a speed determined by the requirements of the cycle. A trip finger 29 carried by the switch is intercepted by a series of fixed pins 30 mounted on adjustably positioned supporting means.

a Each time finger 29 is tripped by a pin it closes a circuit through switch 28 so as to energize a solenoid 33. Upon such energization the armature 34 of the solenoid moves, and, by suitable linkage, the armature movement is converted to limited unidirectional rotary movement of a cam shaft 35 within housing chamber 2|. Said cam shaft extends rearwardly through partition 36 into chamber 22, and is coaxial with a cam shaft portion 35a, there being linking means 31 for uniting the two shaft portions. In chamber 22 there are a plurality of aligned, juxtaposed air valves 32 having operating plungers 39 each responsive to a respective cam on shaft 35a. The hollow valve bodies are in communication with a manifold chamber 40 which is supplied with compressed air from a source not shown. The output from each valve is placed in communication with a respective conduit 43 when the respective valve is operated by a cam 95, therebeing of course one cam for each valve plunger. Each conduit 43 proceeds to a respective valve in the dry cleaning apparatus (not shown) but heretomore mentioned. a I

Shaft 35 in chamber 2| carries two cams 45 and 45 which at suitable times operate respective switches 4'! and 48. Switch 4'! is a single threw switch, which remains closed during a complete cycle so as to keep the timer motor 23 energized. Switch 48 is a double throw switch which selects the desired one of the two dry cleaning apparatus motors 49 and 50, shown only in Fig. 13.

The various cams are suitably oriented around the periphery of shaft portions 35 and 35a. When the cam shaft is periodically advanced through a suitable angular extent upon periodic actuations of the solenoid armature, responsive to actuation of switch 28 by contact of finger 2S witlra pin 38, the proper switch or valve is cper-- atively engaged to perform the operation desired in its correct order in the cycle.

Having now generally characterized the operation-of some of the main operating elements,

the description will proceed somewhat more in detail, and with specific attention to the novel construction and manner in which the presetting and operation of the timing pins is eliected, in combination with the actuation thereby of solenoid control switch 28 by means of the triggerfinger 29.

Cam shaft portion 35 is journaled for rotation in inwardly extending bosses 53 and 53a in the walls 25 and 3B of the chamber 2|. This shaft portion, and its linked coaxial extension 35a, can be rotated manually by knob 54 on the left end (Figs. 1 and 3) of the shaft. It can also be retated, by angular increments, by the solenoid operated mechanism, and this is the normal method ofoperation.

The timing control switch 23 is attached to plate 21. PlateZT in turn is fixed to a sleeve 55 which is rotatable on the inner end of boss 53. Sleeve 55 has a faced flange 56 which serves as the driven member of a clutch device, the driving member being a faced gear 51. Gear 5'! is mounted for free rotation and limited axial movement on a sleeve 58 which is pinned to shaft 35. The respective clutch faces on flange 55 and gear 51 are biased out of contact by a crimped annular spring 59 when shaft 35 is in the starting position, at which time switch plate 2! is at its top position, being stopped at this point by a fixed stop member 55 which engages a notch 5| in the plate 21 (Fig. 4). A counterweight t3 normally returns the switch plate to this position at the end of a cycle, the counterweight operating by means of a cord 64 extending over a roller 55, and being coiled around and secured to sleeve 55.

In normal driving position the gear 51 and flange 56 are maintained in driving contact by means of a flexible yoke member 65 (F'gs. 3 and '7) mounted on plate 24 and abutting a flange 61 on sleeve 58. Said member 66 has a bent out tab 68 which normally serves as a cam to force gear 5'! to the left (Fig. 3) but at the end of the cycle the flange 61 has turned sufiicientlv to re ister a notch 69 in flange 51 with the tab 58 (Fig. '7) so as to relieve biasing pressure on gear 51 and permit disengagement of the clutch 56-51.

Driving torque is applied to switch plate 2'! by means of a pinion 1U driven by motor 23. Motor 23 is of the clock type and the gear reduction is such that the switch plate is capable of making a complete rotation in an hour, unless the cycle is sooner terminated. Dur ng such rotation the flexible yoke 66 maintains biasing pressure on gear 51.

Operation of the various valves 38 and switches 4! and 48 is de endent upon intermittent rotation of shaft 35 through angular increments which in the present instance are each forty degrees. As. previously indicated, energiz tion of solenoid 33 to supply energy for shaft movement res 'lts from closing of switch 2*? as a result of contact of trigger finger 2. with the pins 3*]. Leaving until later the disposition and adjustment of the pins and their supporting means, I will next describe the rotation of shaft 35 responsive to energization of t e solenoid.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, members 13 and 14 constitute a one way clutch. Member 14 is fixed to shaft 35 and member I?- is freely rotatable on shaft 35. The clutch faces take the form of ratchet teeth, and member 13 is movable endwise. being biased towards its complementary member by spring 15. counterclockwise rotation of member 13 (Fig. 5) drives member 14, whereas clockwise rotation produces slippage of member 13 without effect on member 14. Member 13 has peripheral gear teeth [30, which engage gear teeth 16a on a segment I6 which is stud mounted on a plate 11 fixed on plate 24. The solenoid 33 is pivotally attached to plate 11 at 18 (Fig. 1). The solenoid armature is attached to an arm 19 of segment 16 by means of a link 80. Each actuation of the solenoid armature turns segment 1'6 so as to rotate gear 13a through a predetermined amount, in the present case 40, thereby turning shaft 35 a like amount so as to bring the shaft to the next indexed position. Spring 8| returns the solenoid armature to idle position.

To prevent overrunning of the cam shaft a positive limit stop is provided in the form of a stepped or toothed portion 1417 on the fixed clutch member 14 and a sto finger 83 on the solenoid armature linkage. When the linkage is pulled down from the top position of Fig. 5, the finger eventually engages the particular tooth 141) which happens to be horizontally disposed beneath the stop, thereby stopping counterclockwise rotation of the shaft. The plunger, after its momentary actuation, returns to its top position.

Cams 45 and 48 (Fig. 6) are attached to a projecting hub 14a of member 14 which was already described as fixed to shaft 35. rotate with the shaft. Cam 45 has onelow point, and its cam rise closes switch 41 at the start of operations, the switch remaining closedthroughout the cycle. At the end of the cycle the switch operating finger drops to the cam low point, stopping motor 23.

cam 46 has two high points, not quite diametrically opposed, the balance of the cam periphery consisting of two peripherally extended low zones, or dwell contours. ger 48a of switch 48 is on one of the dwell contours. as shown in Fig. 6, which is the starting situation, the slow speed motor 50 (Fig. 13) is energized as will later be explained in connection with the wiring diagram. When switch finger 48a is on one of the cam high points, the high speed motor 49 is energized.

The air control valves 38 operate as follows. Each valve plunger 39 is biased downwardly by its compression spring 84. the construction being readily understood from Figs. 1, 11 and 12. The plunger has a guide portion 85 extending upwards and through a hole in the} casing, each hole having therein a threaded bushing 85 for adjusting the spring pressure on the plunger. A bar 81, slotted at 88, rides on shaft 35a, and has a cam follower 89 which is adapted to contact cam 90 on the shaft. It will be apparent that rotary movement of shaft 35a (Figl ill) normally maintains the plunger in its upper position, until such time as the shaft rotates to cause registry between follower 89 and cam drop 30a at which time the'bar 81 drops, causing suitable actuation of valve 38 and, for example, admitting air to an operating valve in the dry cleaner fluid system.

The timing pin construction and arrangement will now be described. As previously indicated, the positioning of these pins determines the points in the work cycle at which the cam shaft is indexed to a new position, and consequently the times at which certain operations are initiated or terminated.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10,

They therefore d When switch finthe front wall 26 of the housing of chamber 2| has a circular recess on its inner face, surrounding boss 53. This recess is fitted to receive a plurality of annular gears, hereinafter referred to as timing gears. In this instance there are four gears, herein identified by reference characters 93, 94, and 96, proceeding from left to right in Figs. 1, 3 and 10. An annular retaining member 91 retains these gears in the recess, in lateral face-to-face contact, but just loosely enough to permit relative rotation of any gear independently of the others. Disposed at four evenly spaced points around the periphery of this nest of gears are four adjusting gears or pinions, respectively identified as 93a, 94a, 95a and 9611, the gear 93a. being in mesh with timing gear 93, 94a with 94, etc. Shafts from the adjusting gears extend through the front wall 26, and are provided with operating knobs 93c, 94c, 95c and 960, each knob having dial indicia thereon to represent fractional increments of a cycle, in this instance minutes. It will be obvious that rotation of a dial 930, for example, produces rotation of a corresponding adjusting gear 93b, and consequent rotation of an annular timing gear93. The adjusting gears are retained in position by fingers 98 attached to retaining ring 91.

Each timing gear has a plurality of evenly spaced slots around its inner periphery, herein identified as 9311, 94d, 95d, 96d, for the respective gears 93, 94, 95 and 9B. In the present instance there are sixty such slots in each gear, their spacing being therefore six degrees between slot centers. The operating pins 30 are removably carried in these slots. The pins 30 may have end portions frictionally insertible in their respective slots, or otherwise removably disposed therein in such manner that they cannot be accidentally dislodged but may be readily manually taken out or inserted. Under certain conditions, as when certain time periods are unchangeable, as will later appear, the pins may be soldered in place.

The portion of each pin extending from a slot is first bent forward a distance equal to the space between two adjacent slots so as to contact a projecting portion of a pin in the next forward slot, and it is then bent sideways so as to project beyond the next of timing gears to a distance needed for tripping contact with switch finger 29. The forward bending of the pins assures a minimum 6 spacing between pins so that switch finger 29 drops behind each pin without skipping a space. This contour and disposition of pins is well shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

For convenience in further discussion, it will be noted that timing gear 93 carries two pins, a1 and a2; gear 94 carries two pins b1 and b2; gear 95 carries two pins 01 and c2; gear 96 carries two pins di and dz. It may be further noted that when two pins on the same gear, such as m and as, are once set in place, the time interval established by switch finger 2.9 in its travel between the pins is fixed, but the time interval between pins as and hi can be easily changed by movement of an appropriate dial on the casing front wall. I have taken advantage of this fact in controlling a dry cleaning operation as will soon appear. In the arrangement as shown in Fig. 10, if gear 93 for example is rotated so as to move downwardly in the drawing, it will move all the other gears similarly since the leading pin on one gear contacts the trailing pin on an adjoining gear. The gears 94, 95, and 96 can of course be rotated independently to spread their pins more widely from those of adjoining gears, and each gear can also be moved to' close the space between it and either said adjoinin gear, but the space between any two pins, either on the same or on adjoining gears can never be less than the six degree space between slots, and, if the switch plate 21 makes one rotation in an hour, the time occupied by the switch finger in traveling between two pins in adjacent slots will be one minute.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the controller at rest the switch plate 2?, the switch 28, and the trip finger 29 have all been returned to top position by counterweight 63, as previously described. Having determined the number of operations to be controlled, and the time of each operation, the various pins of, cm, In, etc., are disposed at angular distances away from the trip finger corresponding to the time intervals desired, recalling that each space between slots is equivalent to one minute.

Proceeding through a theoretical operation merely as an example, the control motor is started by manually depressing a button I93, Fig. 13. This moves integral plunger 3I against the resistance of a spring 32 (Fig. 1), the tapered end 3Ia of the plunger closing the normally open switch 4| (Fig. 13). This closes a circuit through the solenoid 33 from L1 to L2, the line source of current, so that the solenoid armature produces a first indexing of the cam shaft, thereby closing a circuit to motor 23 through switch 47 by mean of cam 45. Appropriate additional cams on shaft 35a release the spot brake and admit solvent liquid to the curb surrounding th rotating foraminous cylinder (not shown) which holds the work. Cam 46 is in such position that finger 43a of switch 48 is closed so as to energize the low speed motor 59. Referring to Fig. 13, the circuits for the low speed motor operation are as follows: from L2 through finger 41 of closed switch 95, line I99, finger 28a of switch 38 in its right hand position, line IIlI, magnetic starter I94 for the low speed motor, to Ll. Said starter E94 closes the separate power circuit from lines L3 and L4 through conductors I05 and I06 to low speed motor 59.

The washer operates until th switch plate carries the switch trip finger into contact with timing pin or. In the cycle being described merely as an example this pin has been spaced 12 degrees (or two slots) away from the starting point. The garments are washed for two minutes. When at the expiration of said two minute wash period the finger trips pin (21, another solenoid operation occurs, the cam shaft is again indexed, and a drain valve is opened to permit discharge of the wash solvent, which may be routed to filtering means. The drain period is here set at two minutes. Once such period is determined it is not readily changed, at least by an operator without access to th interior of chamber ZI, since pins or and a2 are on the same timin gear 93. As before mentioned, periods which are invariable or generally maintained constant are controlled by placing their initiation and termination pins on the same timing gear.

When further travel of the trip finger 29 makes contact with pin (12 at the end of a two minute drain period, the cam shaft is again indexed, cam 48 is rotated, and switch finger 48a climbs to the high point on the cam 16. Switch arm 48a moves to the left (Fig. 3) breaking the circuit to the low speed motor 56 and closing the circuit to high speed motor 49, as follows: from L2 through finger 4'; of closed switch 45, line I98, fingerjila of switch 48 in its left hand position,

conductor. I09, magnetic starter IID, conductor II3 to L1. Starter IID closes the separate power line from L3 and L4 through conductors III and H2 to high speed motor 49-. Any desired period may be allowed for the extraction step, since its initiation and termination pins are respectively pin as on gear 93 and pin in on gear 94, and the gear 94 and its timing pins can be advanced any desired angular amount by means of knob 940 without disturbing gear 93.

Digressing momentarily to view the knobs 93c, etc., in Fig. 2, it will be noted that knob 930 is disposed so that the dial division representing two minutes is placed opposite the indexing dot, indicating a Wash period of two minutes, and the knob 94c, controlling the time interval for washing fluid extraction, is set at five minutes, indicating a total elapsed tim of five minutes from the start of the cycle. The operator knows that the intermediate drain period is two minutes, so that the extraction period is obviously one minute. ctually the time periods just mentioned, and illustrated by means of the control knobs on Fig. 2 are minimum time periods, and, in operation, some of the periods may be considerably longer. If desired, indicators of some sort may be placed on the panel to show the actual extent of the invariable periods for the benefit of operators not perfectly familiar with the same although the information is purely academic, since the whole cycle is automatic.

Continued rotation of finger 29 produces contact with pin in on gear 94, the cam shaft is again indexed, an appropriate valve is operated to effect application of the slow-down brake, whil cam 46 advances to permit dropping of switch finger 48a from its position on the right (Fig. 3) so as to stop the high speed motor 49.

The spacing between pins b1 and be is invariable, and in the present example allows a period of one minute for a slow down. When finger 29 contacts pin b2, the slow down brake is released, the discharge valve is closed, the inlet valve for rinse solvent is opened, and cam 46 moves switch finger 48a to closed position on the left (Fig. 13) so as to start the low speed motor 59.

The continued operation .of the supposed cycle will be apparent from the description to this point. The rinse period may be controlled by knob 950 so as to determine the interval between pin b2 and pin 01. Pin 01 of course is on gear 95 and on contact of finger 29 with pin 01 the rinse liquid begins to drain. The interval between pins 01 and 02 is invariable, and a fixed draining time of two minutes has beenprovided by spacing said pins two slots apart. The pin 02 terminates the drain period after two minutes and starts the extraction of rinse liquid. Other operations occur as in the previous extraction of wash liquid. Extraction is continued for a period which may be a minimum of one minute or may be longer, if desired. The extraction period is adjustable because pin 02 is on gear 95 and pin (11 is on gear 96. When pin d1 is contacted the slow-down brake is applied for one minute. Contact of the finger 29 with pin 012 causes the final indexing of the shaft 35 to its original stop position, the spot brake is applied, various valves are set in proper position so that the apparatus is ready for the next cycle, both motors are shut off caused by the breaking of the low speed circuit through opening of switch 41. and the door lock is released.

It will be apparent that any desired number of steps in a cycle can be provided by supplying a suitable number of gears, and any number of immediately succeeding steps can be controlled by successive pins on the same gear provided such steps are invariable. For a step which it is desirable to conveniently change whenever the operator chooses (such as the length of washing and rinsing operations) the start and stop pins must be respectively on adjoining gears. The number of indexing steps on the cam shaft is one less than the number of control pins because the first indexing step is made responsive to the operation of the starter button I83. Said number of indexing steps should preferably be predetermined to bring the cam shaft back to starting position at the end of the last step, which may readily be done by making proper changes in the linkage comprising the solenoid plunger, the segment 16a, and the number of stepped teeth Mb on member M. The number of valves 33 and cams 50 will of course be determined in accordance with the specific requirements of the cycle.

From a consideration of the operation and the apparatus just described it will be apparent that any change made by the operator by means of knobs 93c, 940, etc., changes the specific interval represented by the particular knob, but advances all succeeding intervals as a unit, without affecting the specific length of any of said succeeding intervals. Such changes are actually made, in practical operation since the time periods herein illustrated and described are merely minimum periods. If all knobs are returned as far as possible towards the zero point it gives the minimum unit length (in this instance one minute) to all variable intervals without afiecting the length of the invariable intervals.

It will be evident that the present invention is of particular advantage in the control of operations in which certain steps occupy substantially fixed and known periods of time, and otheroperations are subject to variations in the time required to bring them to completion, dependent upon the judgment of the operator. A plurality of time-variable operations in immediate succession can be controlled by a respective plurality of adjacent timing gears, each gear having only one timing pin.

The operation described above occupied only av fractional portion of the complete travel potential of the switch plate 21, after which the plate was returned to starting position. The operation of course was merely set forth in its essentials, so that the functions of the various partswould be clear.

It is apparent that the pins shown clustered rather closely near the leading portions of the peripheries of the timing gears could be redisposed so as to be spread over a much greater seg mental extent of the circumference. Usually they are so spread. In the cycle hereinabove described, the minimum length of the cycle was eleven minutes, occupied as follows: wash 2 minutes, drain wash liquid 2 minutes, extract wash residue 1 minute, brake 1 minute, rinse 1 minute, drain rinse liquid 2 minutes, extract rinse residue 1 minute. brake 1 minute. In actual practice the time is longer, as previously noted. If for example the wash dial 930 should be set for a 5 minute wash, the succeeding dials 94c, 95c, and 960 would be thereby advanced accordingly to respectively read 8 minutes, 10 minutes, and 13 minutes. If in addition it was desired to have a three minute extraction of residual wash liquid, the operator would advance dial 940 an additional 2 minutes.

to now read 10 minutes, and dials 95c and 56c would then read-respectively 12 minutes and 15 19 minutes.

10 minutes. If the operator desired a 5 minute rinse period instead of the one minute period originally assumed, he would move dial 950 forward 4 additional minutes to now show a total time of 16, minutes, thereby causing dial 960 to advance to. If, finally, the operator desired the rinse extraction to occupy 3 minutes, he would advance dial 960 so that it indicated an accumulated time of 21 minutes. If the breaking period is 1 minute the total cycle would therefore be 22 minutes. This is more nearly a commercial cycle.

The operator normally'mentally adds the intermediate periods not shown on the dials, but

mentioned hereinabove, so that he can set the.

dials practically immediately after he has determined the length of the variable periods.

At the end of the cycle switch 28 is returned to its starting point, finger 29 sliding across the timing pins without changing any dial positions or pin positions. If theoperator desires, for example when some time elements of the cycle are to be changed, he may turn knob 96c counterclockwise (Fig. 2) whereupon all the other knobs are returned to the minimum starting setting heretofore described, after which they are reset for the new cycle.

Even the 22 minute cycle just described does not utilize a complete rotation of the switch plate 21. 2'! can be efiected by spacing the pins at greater distances, so that the periods are longer, or by inserting additional pins for additional operations. In fact, if there seemed any reason for it, only a single operation could be performed, using only one timing pin, which could be set at any desired distance, up to one hour in the embodiment described,v The total time of course could be made longer or shorter, by suitable choice of the clock motor and reduction gearing for the rotation of the switch plate. Obviously there are a number of ways in which the switch plate could be arranged to go through a completetilinear movement, the timing pins then being arranged in a row, forinstance on suitable racks. Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art on consideration of the present disclosure.

The use of rotary movement has been found sufficiently simple and convenient for utilization in onerations of the type disclosed herein.

What I claim is:

1. Timing means for controlling a sequence of operations, some of which are of variable length,

comprising a housing, a plurality of operation.

7 said path whereby. tocause contact between said finger and each said timing member. in succession, said indexing member being moved. an increment of motion responsive to each said contact, someof said timing members being maintained in relatively fixed position whereby the spaces therebetween remain normally constant, and operator operatable means on the exterior; of said housing, and operatively linked to others of said timing members and effective to change Such complete rotation of the switch plate 11 the positions of said last named members at such times as the operator so desires.

2. In a work performing apparatus having a plurality of operating elements responsive to movement of a respective plurality of operation initiating members, a sequence controller having a cam carrier, a plurality of spaced cams thereon, each cam being effective on a respective operation initiating member when registered therewith by indexing movement of said carrier, carrier indexing means for imparting to said carrier increments of motion constituting fractional parts of one complete cyclical trip of said carrier, said indexing means comprising a plurality of timing members disposed in predetermined spaced relation along a path, a timing finger, means for moving said finger continuously along said path adjacent said timing members whereby to cause contact between said finger and each said timing member in succession and at such respective time intervals as determined by the space between said timing members, said indexing means being responsive to each such contact whereby to produce indexing movement of said carrier upon each such contact, some of said timing members being maintained in fixed position whereby the space defined by two adjacent fixed members remains normally constant during a succession of complete operations, and operator operatable means for readily varying the position of others of said timing members whereby spaces defined by said movable members are variable in length.

3. In a work performing apparatus having a plurality of operating elements responsive to movement of a respective plurality of operation initiating members, a sequence controller having a cam shaft, a plurality of spaced cams thereon, each cam being effective on a respective operation initiating member when registered therewith by indexing movement of said shaft, shaft indexing means for intermittently imparting to said cam shaft angular increments of rotary motion constituting fractional parts of one complete rotation of said shaft, said indexing means comprising a plurality of timing members disposed in predetermined spaced relation along a path, a timing switch, means for moving said switch continuously along said path adjacent said timing members, switch actuating means carried with said switch and adapted, during its movement, to contact each said timing member in succession, and at such respective time intervals as determined by the spacing between said members, whereby, at each such actuation, to complete an electric circuit through said switch, said shaft indexing means being responsive to each such switch actuation to produce indexing movement as aforesaid, some of said timing members being relatively fixed in position whereby the space defined by two adjacent fixed members normally remains constant during the control of a complete operation, and operator operatable means for readily varying the position of others of said timing members whereby spaces defined by said movable timing members are variable in length.

4. A sequence controller as defined in claim 3 and wherein said shaft indexing means includes a solenoid, an armature movable responsive to energization and deenergization of said solenoid, a driving linkage between said shaft and said solenoid whereby said shaft is rotated by move ment of said armature in one direction only, and said solenoid being in electric circuit connection 12 with said switch, whereby said armature is moved whenever said switch actuating means makes contact with a timing member.

5. A sequence controller as defined in claim 3 and wherein said timing members include a plurality of juxtaposed timing pin carriers, a plurality of timing pins on each said carrier, the timing pins on any one carrier being relatively fixed with respect to each other, but the carriers being independently movable whereby to vary the distance between the pins on one carrier and the pins on an adjacent carrier.

6. A sequence controller as defined in claim 5 and wherein said timing pin carrier consists of a plurality of rotatable rings, each ring having a plurality of peripheral slots at evenly spaced distances, said rings being disposed side by side in lateral face contact, and wherein the timing pins have base portions removably seated in said slots.

7. In a work performing apparatus having a plurality of operating elements responsive to fluid transmitting movement of a plurality of fluid valves, a sequence controller having a cam shaft, a plurality of longitudinally spaced cams thereon, each cam being effective on a respective valve when registered therewith by indexing movement of said shaft, shaft indexing means for intermittently imparting to said cam shaft angular increments of rotary motion constituting fractional parts of a complete shaft rotation, said indexing means comprising a plurality of timing rings disposed in lateral side by side relationship, each ring being independently rotatable, each ring having a plurality of peripherall spaced slots thereon, a plurality of timing pins secured in respective slots and distributed circumferentially in a path, there being at least two such pins in each ring, a timing switch, means for rotating said switch continuously adjacent said rings, switch actuating means rotatable with said switch and adapted, durin its movement, to contact each timing pin in succession, and at such times as determined by the circumferential spacing between pins, whereby at each such actuation to open or close the electric circuit through said switch, said cam shaft being responsive to each such actuation whereby an indexing movement of said shaft occurs at each contact between said actuating means and a timing pin, the timing pins on any one ring being relatively fixed with respect to each other whereby the space defined between any two pins on an one ring remains normally constant during operation of the sequence controller, and operator operatable means for readily varying the relative position between any adjacent rings whereby to correspondingly vary the space defined by a pin on one ring and a pin on an adjacent ring.

8. A sequence controller as defined in claim 7 and wherein said shaft indexing means includes a solenoid, an armature movable responsive to energization and deenergization of said solenoid, a driving linkage between said solenoid armature and said cam shaft whereby said shaft is rotated by movement of said armature in one direction only, and said solenoid being in electric circuit connection with said switch, whereby said armature is moved whenever said switch actuating means makes contact with a timing pin.

9. A sequence controller as defined in claim 7 and wherein motor-operating switch means is provided adjacent said cam shaft, a cam on said shaft being disposed at certain shaft orientations to open or close said motor operating switch, a

timin motor for rotating said timing switch, said timing motor being operatively linked to said motor operating switch.

10. A sequence controller as defined in claim 7 and wherein housing means is provided for enclosing said shaft indexing means, whereby the timing pins are inaccessible from the exterior of said housing, but said operator operatable means has a portion extending through and outside of said housing whereby to be readily manipulatable from the exterior of said housing.

11. Timing means for controlling a series of operations comprising a housing, a plurality of operation initiating members, an indexing member effective, when moved, upon predetermined ones of said operation initiating members, motive means in said housing for imparting to said indexing member increments of motion constituting fractional parts of one complete cycle, said motive means comprising a plurality of timing members disposed along a path, a timing finger, means for moving said finger continuously along said path whereby to cause contact between said finger and each said timing member in succession, said indexing member being moved an increment of motion responsive to each said contact, and operator operatable means on the exterior of said housing, and operatively linked to said timing members, and effective to change the positions of said timing members along said path, whereby to change the distances between certain of said timing members as desired by the operator.

12. In a work performing apparatus having a plurality of operating elements responsive to movement of a respective plurality of operation initiating members, a sequence controller having a cam shaft, a plurality of spaced cams thereon, each cam being effective on a respective operation initiating member when registered therewith by indexing movement of said shaft, shaft indexing means for intermittently imparting to said cam shaft angular increments of rotary motion constitutin fractional parts of one complete shaft rotation, said indexing means including a spur gear fixed to said shaft, a solenoid, an armature movable responsive to energization and deenergization of said solenoid, a link operatively fixed to said armature, a segmental gear engaging said spur gear and said link whereby movement of said armature rotates said segmental gear and thereby said spur gear, timing means consisting of a plurality of timing members disposed in predetermined spaced relation along a path, a timing switch, means for moving said switch continuously along said path adjacent said timing members, and switch actuating means carried with said switch and adapted during its movement to contact each said timing member in succession, said solenoid being in electric circuit connection with said switch whereby, at each switch actuation said solenoid is energized to actuate said segmental gear and impart to said shaft an indexing movement.

13. In a work performing apparatus of the character defined in claim 12, means for controlling the angular extent of rotation of said shaft each time an indexing movement is imparted thereto, comprising a ratchet fixed on said shaft and having a plurality of evenly spaced teeth, the angular spacing between corresponding points on two adjacent teeth being equal to the angular extent of desired shaft rotation upon each indexing movement, a pawl-like member movable with said link and engageable with successive teeth upon respectively successive indexing energizations of said solenoid whereby to prevent overrunning of said shaft when indexing movement is imparted thereto as aforesaid.

THEODORE F. JOHNSON.

No references cited. 

